Thursday, February 24, 2011

LIVE: Libya at the edge of chaos

While Muammar Gaddafi, determined to retain power, had promised the day before regaining control of the situation and a "butcher" for the demonstrators, the stock was significantly different in the early evening: the east coast of Libya would be "dropped "the hands of opponents. Meanwhile, the Islamist movement Al-Qaeda itself has gained ground, making the coastal town of Derna, on the east, its stronghold. The international community has clamped down significantly during the day, referring to how increasingly assertive implementation of sanctions against the Qaddafi regime, not just economic. The European Union and the United States clearly invoke sanctions. President Barack Obama must speak for the first time on Libya, by tomorrow. In the absence of effective, traffic was blocked for several ports, which has pushed oil prices to new highs in London and New York markets fearing a major stop export of Libyan oil The evacuations of residents have been accelerated, while new reviews have reported over 600 deaths in Libya, or 2000 according to medical sources. About 5,000 refugees have won neighboring Tunisia in the past 48 hours. END OF LINE 7:15 p.m. - U.S. Sanctions - The White House warns consider "a range of tools" including "sanctions" against the Gaddafi regime. It is expected that President Barack Obama speaks today or tomorrow on the situation in Libya, which will be his first public statement on the subject. 7:10 p.m. - Ports blocked, record crude oil - the maritime trade with Libya is disrupted in the late afternoon, especially for oil exports. In New York, a barrel of daughter crossed the threshold of $ 100, a first since October 2008. 18:45 - The African Union condemned - The African Union condemned the "disproportionate use of force against civilians." 18:30 - "Horrible, just" - arrived in Tunisia after fleeing the "hell" in Libya, the Tunisian nationals in terror, say. "It was just horrible. We heard gunshots all night. I'm in shock, exhausted by fatigue, hunger, everything we saw. The kids, they have seen things" says one mother. Cheese sandwich, cake with harissa, olives: upon arrival, migrants can relax on lawn chairs, thanks to the generosity of people in Ben Guerdane first town after the border, who collected money and food. A caravan of 25 cars loaded with drugs and food arrived Tuesday night, another 11 cars this morning. "For the victims of Gaddafi. We are a group of Tunisians come to help our friends in Libya. (...) We expect the destruction of this dictator then," said one volunteer. "It's a massacre in Libya," shouted another refugee. "I want the Western intervention to stop the killings immediately." 6:05 p.m. - Security foreigners - The European Union calls on Libya to "guarantee" the safety of foreigners in its territory and to "facilitate" the departure of those who wish, according to a draft declaration obtained by AFP. 5:53 p.m. - EU hardens tone - The EU countries say they are "ready" to take sanctions against Libya and instructed their experts to review asset freezes, visa bans and the possibility of prosecution cons of regime leaders. 5:47 p.m. - No Paris-Tripoli - The Air France has postponed to an undetermined date to the opening of its Paris-Tripoli, originally scheduled for March. The company announced Jan. 11 reopening of this route, which was closed after the attack against a UTA airliner in 1989. 4:52 p.m. - 640 deaths, or more? - The death toll linked to the repression of the uprising rose to 640 dead, including 275 in Tripoli to Benghazi and 230, according to figures compiled by the International Federation for Human Rights of Rights (FIDH). A figure twice as high as the official death toll reports of 300 deaths. A French doctor who had just returned to Benghazi for his part, delivered the magazine Le Point estimate of "more than 2,000 dead" for this city alone. 4:42 p.m. - Journalists "outlaw" - Journalists entered illegally in Libya are considered "like living outside the law," said Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Libya, Khaled Kaim. "There are journalists who have entered illegally and we consider them now as they were collaborating with Al Qaeda and like off-the-law, and we are not responsible for their safety. And if they do not engage authorities, they will be arrested. " 16H35 - Lockerbie bombing - Gaddafi himself has ordered the Lockerbie bombing in 1988, says the former Libyan Minister of Justice, Abdul Jalil Mustafa, the Swedish newspaper Expressen. "I have proof that Gaddafi has given orders to Lockerbie." On December 21, 1988, a Boeing Company Panam from London to New York has exploded in flight over the village of Lockerbie in Scotland. The case had brought the trial of two Libyan suspects and sanctions against Libya, the sanctions lifted when the country has accepted responsibility in 2003. 4:28 p.m. - Al Qaeda spreads - Al-Qaeda has established an Islamic emirate in the coastal city of Derna, on the east, reports the Libyan Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Khaled Kaim. The bastion is led by Abdelkarim Al-hasad, a former Guantanamo detainee. Scenario "on Taliban" is envisaged in Libya. "Now they have an FM radio and begin to impose the burqa." They have already "executed people because they refused to cooperate." 3:57 p.m. - Soaring oil - In London, the price of Brent crude oil exceeded $ 110, a level reached since early September 2008, the market fearing supply problems of black gold 3:43 p.m. - Crash of a fighter jet - a Libyan fighter aircraft crashed as its driver, refusing to obey orders to bomb Benghazi is ejected, the website says a Libyan newspaper. 15:30 - overjoyed - Soldiers joined the protest movement in the East. Everywhere, the insurgents are in the wind the flag of independence before the age of Gaddafi. On the coastal road, people make the sign of victory. Overjoyed, they seem confident that Gaddafi will be reversed, noted AFP out of the city of Tobruk, towards the west. Residents of the town of Al-Baida said that militiamen loyal to Gaddafi had been executed. Some locals have told reporters that the AFP's anti-Gaddafi controlled the area from the Egyptian border until Ajdabiya further west, via Tobruk and Benghazi. 14:45 - EU Sanctions? Divided yesterday on the issue of sanctions to impose on the Gaddafi regime, Europeans appear in the afternoon close to agreement on the subject. After Finland and Germany, France, Luxembourg, Italy and Spain are on the frontlines. "Several ideas" are on the table, said the services of the European foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton. Along with sanctions, Europe is preparing to face a humanitarian crisis. 2:31 p.m. - Eastern fell - The opponents seem to control the eastern coast of the country, with soldiers joining the protest movement, noted journalists from AFP. Insurgents, most armed, are found all along the highway that runs along the Mediterranean coast from the Egyptian border to the city of Tobruk. Several residents told AFP that the anti-Qadhafi controls the region stretching from the Egyptian border until Ajdabiya further west, via Tobruk and Benghazi. 14:10 - Not Family Gaddafi in Beirut - Lebanon has refused to host a private plane carrying the Libyan-born wife of a Lebanese son of Colonel Gaddafi. "The Beirut airport has received on the night of Sunday to Monday a request by the Libyan authorities to accommodate a plane belonging to the Gaddafi family, with several people on board including Aline Skaff, the wife of Hannibal Gaddafi, who is Lebanese origin, "a source said on condition of anonymity. "Lebanon has rejected that demand." 2:01 p.m. - massive Exodus? - The Red Crescent evokes Wednesday a "catastrophic risk" massive exodus of the Libyans in Tunisia, at this stage with more than 5,700 people who fled to Tunisia in 48 hours. 13H30 - "Either he kills or is killed" - Abdel Moneim al-Honi, who delivered his duties as a representative of Libya from the Arab League to join the "revolution", says that Gaddafi "is far worse than Saddam Hussein. I think that Saddam Hussein had a bit of common sense, while this man has neither common sense nor wisdom. (...) I think it's a matter of days, not more. Unfortunately I think at the same time it will be expensive to Libya and the Libyans, because this man is capable of anything. (...) Either he kills or is killed. " 1:25 p.m. - Penalties - "I feel a particular horror of the violence being committed against the people who stands up for freedom and justice in Libya," cried the President of the European Union, Herman Van Rompuy sidelines of a trip to Prague. "I saw the horrible crimes that are unacceptable and can not remain without consequences." 1:21 p.m. - Leak in Tunisia - Thousands of people fled the country and won Tunisia, according to revised figures from the International Organization for Migration (IOM). "This is the first group of migrants. Some have crossed the border by car, including leased vehicles, and there were two buses," said a spokesman for the organization. "The arrival of migrants continues today. The reports of hundreds of migrants have been received but not yet confirmed." 1:16 p.m. - A third French aircraft - The third military plane chartered by France to repatriate its nationals took off from Roissy airport around 12:30, it was learned from the staff of the army. The two first planes chartered for military repatriations arrived yesterday night at Paris with approximately 360 person on board, mainly French. 12:45 - 10,000 Europe - There are still 10,000 to evacuate European nationals in Libya, Brussels. The European Commission aims to "coordinate the provision of transport capacity to continue the evacuations, especially by sea, over the coming hours and days," said a spokesman for the Commission. It also finds' unacceptable for a leader threatens its own citizens. 12:31 - Port and Terminal closed - This was announced by the French shipping company CMA-CGM: "All ports and terminals are temporarily closed." While the EU has to say ready to evacuate up to 10,000 of its citizens, especially by sea 24:20 - Tripoli slowly - The Libyan capital holds its breath, with most shops closed and long queues at bakeries and gas stations. 24:14 - Dozens of pro-Gaddafi - Libyan leader had called his supporters Tuesday night in the streets. By mid-day on the Green Square, dozens of cars honking in turn in the pouring rain, according to an AFP journalist. Demonstrators waved green flags and portraits of the "Guide" under the eye of a small number of law enforcement, with two or three police cars and some men in civilian clothes armed with Kalashnikovs. 11:51 - "A disturbed man" and "dangerous" - Minister of Foreign Affairs of Luxembourg Jean Asselborn does not mince words in speaking of Colonel Gaddafi. He said "this is only a matter of hours before the EU says yes to visa restrictions and we froze the bank accounts of Libyans who have acted irresponsibly and are members of the clan Gaddafi ". 11:46 - A Turkish dead, 5,000 returnees - Turkey has repatriated the fifth of its nationals there. It deplores the deaths in unspecified circumstances, a 27 year old man who was working on a construction site near Tripoli. 11:32 - Chaos at the border with Egypt - Thousands of Egyptian workers in Libya flock to the border post Salloum. They are fleeing the violence they have witnessed in the east. "There were a lot of shots ... they want us out, for sure," said Amr told AFP. Others cite the protection they were offered spontaneously by the demonstrators in revolt against the power of Gaddafi. About 1.5 million Egyptians live and work in Libya. 11:03 - Gaddafi has lost Cyrenaica - The province of eastern country is no longer under the control of the government of Tripoli, said Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini. He said "clashes and violence are underway across the country." 11:00 - Sarkozy for sanctions - French President calls "the rapid adoption of concrete sanctions" from the European Union against those responsible for repression in Libya and hopes the suspension of economic and financial relations with that country "until further notice. " 10:33 - Human Rights - The Commission on Human Rights UN held a special session Friday on the situation in Libya, at the request of the European Union, an official said Wednesday the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. 10:29 - New defection - The Libyan ambassador to Indonesia, Salaheddin M. El Bishara, announced his resignation because he can not "tolerate" that civilians are killed by the regime of Muammar Kadhafi.Plusieurs Libyan ambassadors, including those in position in the U.S. and India, have already announced their resignations. 10:25 - Total Stall - The French oil group says have "begun to suspend" a portion of its production in the country. LIVE: While the evacuations of foreigners have intensified, the head of state Muammar Gaddafi has called on his supporters to take to the streets today. He demanded that the protesters make their weapons "or else there will be butchers." The international community made repeated appeals to desist from violence against civilians and spoke of possible "crimes against humanity" in Libya. But Colonel Gaddafi, in his televised speech Tuesday night vowed to fight "until the last drop" of his blood. He called the police and army to regain control of the situation and assured that any demonstrators armed deserved "punishment." Libya announced a review of 300 deaths in the violence in the country, moved from February 15 through unprecedented uprising against Muammar Gaddafi, in power for nearly 42 years.